Automatic scoring



March 10, 1964 MENTZER T 3,124,355

AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME Filed Feb. 9, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS EVA-E677 K. ME/VTZEE, ROBERT h- BOUCHEZL their 4 r Toma/715.

E. K. MENTZER ETAL March 10, 1964 3,124,355 AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. '9, 1962 wEuo .2280

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March 1954 E. K. MENTZER ETAL 3,124,355

AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME Filed Feb. 9, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS M zvrzse 25$??? T200562.

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March 10, 1964 E. K. MENTZER ETAL 3,124,355 AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME Filed Feb. 9, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 w M 5M2 7' Tam/E. 719.

AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING March 10, 1964 E. K. MENTZER ETAL 3,124,355

APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME Filed Feb. 9, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 HVVENTORS.

EVERETT Kai 16157261? R0562 T H. BOUC/IERLE,

March 1964 E. K. MENTZER ETAL 3,124,355

AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME Filed Feb. 9, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 670 729 a THR 6 7 PLAYER wwrs 7 Fig. I4c.

INVENTORS. EVERETT K. MENTZAP.

ROBERT H. BOUC'HZLE March 10, 1964- F'iled Feb. 9, 1962 HUMOR! E. K. MENTZ-ER ETAL ,355

AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORS. EVERE 7' T K. MEN T282,

ROBEkT/l MICHERLE. BY

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March 10, 1964 E. K. MENTZER ETAL 3,124,355

AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME ISSh'eetS-Sheet 10 Filed Feb. 9, 1962 INVENTQJZS. svszsrr K. Mpvrzse ROBERT/l. BOUJCHEELE.

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AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME Filed Feb. 9, 1962 15 Sheets-Sheet 12L mm mm Nmm -r M, e)

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March 10, 1964 E. K. MENTZER ETAL 3,124,355

AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME IS Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Feb. 9, 1962 m5 2K QR QM March 10, 1964 Filed Feb. 9, 1962 Fi9.l5D.

E. K. MENTZER ETAL AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME 15 Sheets-Sheet 18 10TH. FRAME w W INVENTOES- i EVERETT x. MENTZEl? I 208527 H. save/1521.6

March 10, 1964 E. K. MENTZER 'E'TAL 3,124,355

AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Feb. 9, 1962 :6: its

lNVENTOES EVERETT K. MENTZfR, RUbERT H- BOUC/I EL their 2 E. K. MENTZER ETAL March 10, 1964 3,124,355 AUTOMATIC SCORING, TOTALIZING AND PRINTING APPARATUS FOR BOWLING GAME IS Sheets-Sheet 1.6

Filed Feb. 9, 1962 INVENTOES EVEAETT K. MENTZEZ, 08527 JOUCHERL E that:

a rrazalava United States Patent 3,124,355 AUTQMATIC SCQRENG, TQTAHZENG AND PRENT- ING APPARATUS FQR EOWMNG GAME Everett K. Mentzer, Struthers, and Robert H. Boucherie, Avon Lake, Ohio, assiguors, by theme assignments, to The Cleveland Trust (10., a banking institution, trustee Filed Feb. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 175365 2 Claims. (Cl. 27354) This invention relates to apparatus for automatically registering, totalizing and printing the score of one or more players in a bowling game. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus of the type described which may be used whether the bowlers in a particular group are bowling on one or a plurality of alleys and may also be used for league play. This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 38,091, filed July 7, 1960.

As is well known, a bowling game is normally divided into ten frames, the object being to knock down ten pins arranged in a triangular configuration with one or more ball deliveries during each frame. In the case of tenpins, two balls are allowed for each frame except in the case of a strike where all pins are knocked down by the first ball and the frame ends with the throwing of the first or strike ball. If a bowler knocks down less than ten pins with two balls in any one frame, he is entitled to an immediate score for that frame. On the other hand, if the bowler knocks down ten pins with two balls in any frame, he has made a spare which, for that frame, entitles him to a score of ten plus the number of pins knocked down by the first ball in the next frame. Finally, if the bowler achieves a strike by knocking down all of the pins with the first ball in a frame, he is entitled, for that frame, to a score of ten plus the total number of pins knocked down by the next succeeding two balls.

In a bowling game there are ten frames, and the foregoing procedure applies for the first nine frames. If a spare is made in the tenth frame, however, one bonus ball is allowed, meaning that the bowler is allowed to deliver three balls in the last frame. On the other hand, if a strike is made in the last frame, the bowler is entitled to two bonus balls, meaning that he still delivers a total of three balls in this last frame. If neither a strike nor spare is made in the last or tenth frame, the bowler is entitled to only two balls for that frame as in any other frame.

The bowling score is usually recorded on charts or blank forms provided by proprietors or operators of bowling alleys. It is generally customary for either the bowler himself or a person designated for this purpose to keep score. After each ball is rolled, the pinfall results of that ball are entered in a box provided in the upper right-hand corner of the score box corresponding to the frame being played. In most cases, after each frame is played, the frame score is written in the appropriate place in a box or part of the score chart corresponding to the particular frame adjacent the name of each player. If a bowler should make, for example, nine pins in a frame, the number nine will be headed in the box provided for that frame adjacent his name. If, on the other hand, a strike or a spare is made on the first or second ball, respectively, of a frame, a symbol well known in scoring the game is placed in the upper right-hand corner of the box representing that frame to indicate the results of the pinfall by a particular ball in the case of a strike, or two balls in the case of a spare. In the case of a strike, two balls must be delivered before appropriate scores in preceding boxes can be entered. In the case of a spare, scoring is delayed until the next or first ball of the next frame is rolled; whereas, in the case of two normal balls gress of a game.

3,124,355 Patented Mar. 10, 1964 "ice knocking down less than ten pins, the frame score can immediately be added and the play to that point totalized.

Although the manual method of scoring described above has been used for many years, it has certain inherent disadvantages. The bowling game is probably the most difiicult of all games to score properly, and when entries are made on a score sheet manually, errors oftentimes arise in counting the number of pins knocked down by any ball and in adding the pinfall results of any frame to the previous score. Furthermore, the scoring procedure is often confusing to beginners and gives rise to discussions and arguments arising in connection with entries on the score charts. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to provide a means for automatically registering the number of pins knocked down in a frame by each ball, as well as strikes and spares, together with apparatus for totalizing and printing the score in each frame.

Systems have been proposed, such as that shown in Millman et al. Patent 2,590,444, for automatically registering strikes, spares and pins knocked down and for totalizing the score in each frame. In a device of this type, however, the ball results and score for each frame are registered on a scoreboard, and the score is then removed or erased when the next frame is played. That is, the score for only one frame is indicated at any one time on the scoreboard, meaning that there is no permanent record of the score achieved in each frame during the bowling game as is the case, for example, when the score is manually entered on a score sheet. The score indicated on a scoreboard may, of course, be manually entered on a score sheet in order to obtain a permanent record, however this involves much the same manual process as is required under the ordinary scoring procedure.

As an overall object, the present invention seeks to provide improved apparatus for detecting, totalizing and printing the score in a bowling game.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an automatic scoring and printing system for a bowling game wherein ball results and scores are entered on a score sheet in a manner such that substantially the entire sheet is visible along with the ball results and frameto-frame scores of all players achieved during the pro- In this way, the system closely approximates the present manual system of entering scores wherein the entire sheet is visible except when the scorekeepers hand obstructs a portion of the sheet during the time that an entry is made.

Contrary to what might be expected, the provision of apparatus for achieving the foregoing object is not a simple matter. Unobstructed viewing of a printed sheet during the printing operation is of little importance in the case of the usual printing procedure since the printed sheet is not intended to be viewed or read until after the printing operation is completed. However, in the case of a bowling game score sheet, bowlers are accustomed to viewing substantially the entire score sheet during the game; and any other arrangement might discourage use of the equipment.

In accordance with the invention, the score sheet is formed from material which will permit light to pass therethrough and is supported in close abutting relationship with a substantially flat transparent backing plate such that substantially the entire sheet is visible during the progress of a game, meaning that except during an actual printing operation, all parts of the sheet can be viewed. As will be seen, the use of a transparent, or at least a substantially transparent, plate and a score sheet through which light will pass facilitates illumination of the score sheet by light passing through the plate. Although various diiferent arrangements of the score sheet can be effected in accordance with the teachings of the in vention, it has been found that a transparent or the like backing plate and a score sheet through which light will pass are fundamental essentials.

The printing apparatus must be such that it will facilitate relative movement between the score sheet and printing type and will permit substantially continuous viewing of the score sheet during the progress of a game, although at least a portion of the score sheet will necessarily be obstructed during actual printing of a score, as was mentioned above. As will be understood, the printing apparatus may be embodied in various forms, the specific arrangement shown herein being illustrative of one embodiment. The essential feature of the printing apparatus is that it facilitates substantially the entire sheet being visible during the progress of a game.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bowling alley with which the scoring, totalizing and printing apparatus of the invention may be used;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the printing arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken-away side view of the printing apparatus of the invention showing the arrangement of the printing wheels and the cam means for lifting the printing wheels into engagement with the sheet which is to be printed;

FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 taken substantially along line IVIV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 3 showing the cam arrangement for elevating the printing apparatus into engagement with the sheet which is to be printed;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI VI of FIG. 3 showing the electrical contact arrangement for each printing wheel of the printing apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIVII of FIG. 3 showing the stop finger arrangement and indexing mechanism for each of the printing wheels of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VlII-VIII of FIG. 3 showing the carbon paper dispensing and shutter arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a back view of the printing apparatus of FIG. 3 showing the shutter actuating arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the automatic detecting, registering and totalizing system of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a cover for the player pushbuttons shown in FIG. 2 which will permit each pushbutton to be depressed only by an appropriate key for that pushbutton;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one of the keys usable with the cover of FIGS. 11 and 12;

FIGS. 14A-14D, when placed side-by-side in the following manner, constitute a schematic circuit diagram of the player switches and player totalizing and scoring units of the invention: FIG. 148 above FIG. 14A, FIG. 14C to the left of FIG. 14A, and FIG. 14D to the left of FIG. 14B and above FIG. 14C; and

FIGS. 15A15=F, when placed end-to-end, constitute a schematic circuit diagram of the master circuit of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a bowling alley is shown comprising the usual approach area 10 which terminates at a foul line 12. On the other side of the foul line is the alley proper 14 comprising tongue-and-groove bed stock laid on edge. The alley 14- terminates at a tail plank, 16, while ahead of the tail plank is a pin deck 18 having ten fiber pin spots 29 thereon. As will be understood, the pins are placed on the pin spots 2% during a bowling game by means of an automatic pin-spotting machine, not shown. On each side of the alley 14 are round bottom gutters 22, only one of such gutters being shown in FIG. 1. The gutters 22 extend from the foul line 12 to the pin deck 18; while along the pin deck are gutters 24 which conventionally have flat bottom surfaces, these gutters 24 communicating with the ends of gutters 22 as shown.

Separating successive alleys are division boards 26 which communicate with kickbacks 28. The kickbacks extend along the length of the pin deck 18 as well as the pit 30 behind the tail plank. A cushion plank 32 extends between the tops of the kickbacks 28 and supports a cushion 34, substantially as shown. On the side of each kickback 28 is a kickback plate 36 facing the pins on spots 20.

The printing apparatus of the present invention is carried within a console, generally indicated at 38 in FIG. 1, this console being positioned adjacent the approach area it). In an actual installation, usually two printing devices will be positioned within a single console between adjacent alleys to facilitate league play; however, for the purpose of a complete understanding of the invention, the single printing arrangement for the one alley will suffice.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the top 40 of the console 38 is shown and comprises a plate having a rectangular opening 42' cut therein. Covering the major right-hand portion of the opening 42 is a transparent plate 44, while beneath the plate 44 is a conventional bowling game score sheet comprising a series of player lines each of which is divided into frame boxes numbered one through ten. Within the first nine frame boxes in each player line are two ball results boxes 46, while in the tenth frame three ball results boxes 48 are provided. In the particular embodiment of the invention shown herein, the transparent plate 44 does not cover the lefthand portion of the score sheet provided for the players names, the arrangement being such that the name of each player may be manually entered on one of the player lines with a pencil or the like. Adjacent the names of the players are a series of pushbuttons identified by the letters A through H. As will be seen, these pushbuttons are used to position the printing apparatus, hereinafter described, beneath the correct player line. As an alternative to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, the transparent plate 44 may cover the entire score sheet, in which case a removable card having the names of players thereon may he slipped into a holder adjacent the pushbuttons A-H such that each players name will be adjacent one of the pushbuttons.

Description of Structure and Operation of Printing Apparatus Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5, it can be seen that the score sheet, identified by the numeral 50, actually comprises a series of such sheets wound upon a paper roll 52 carried within the console 38. From the paper roll 52 the continuous sheet of successive score sheets passes over a roller 54 which is spring-biased upwardly against the bottom surface of plate 40 and thence underneath the transparent plate 44 to an exit slot 56. From the slot 56 the continuous roll of score sheets passes into a score sheet clamp and cutoff assembly 58 which, in one position, clamps the forward end of the continuous length of score sheets and, in another position, is adapted to sever the continuous length so as to separate a fully printed score sheet from the next successive score sheet to be printed beneath the transparent plate 44.

Carried within the console 38 beneath the plates 44 are a first pair of tracks 60 and 62 (FIG. 5) which carry, for reciprocating movement, a first carriage 64 comprising a pair of angle irons 66 and 63 bolted or otherwise securely fastened to a second pair of tracks 70 and 72 (FIG. 3). Provided on the angle irons 66 and 68 are rollers 74 and 76 adapted to move along the tracks 60 and 62 to facilitate reciprocating movement of the carriage 64 along a path extending parallel to the player lines on the score sheet 50. Carried on the tracks 70 and 72 for reciprocating movement at right angles to the movement of carriage 64 is a second carriage 78 having rollers 81) and 82 adapted to move within the tracks 70 and 72. The carriage 78 comprises a pair of angle irons 84 and 86 to which the rollers 80 and 82 are connected, together with a pair of plates 88 and 91) which extend upwardly from angle irons 34 and 86. The ends of upright plates 88 and 91) furtherest removed from the plane of the drawing are provided with inwardly-bent tabs 92 each provided with an opening which receives a bushing 94. The purpose of the tabs 92 and bushings 94 is to support, for reciprocating movement, a vertically extending plate 96 which, in turn, carries the printing apparatus proper as will hereinafter be described. As shown, the plate 96 is provided with inwardly-bent flanges 9t, and 100 at its upper and lower edges, respectively. Carried on the flanges 98 and 11111 at the opposite ends thereof are bolts 102 having stub portions 1194 which extend downwardly through the bushings 94 in the tabs 92 on plates 88 and 90. Threadedly received on the bolts 102 are stop members 106, the arrangement being such that these stop members 1% will limit the downward movement of plate 96 with respect to plates 88 and 90. The plate 96 may, however, move upwardly from the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 by virtue of the stub portions 104 which are slideably received in the bushings 94 in tabs 92. That is, the plate 96 may reciprocate upwardly from the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 and then downwardly with the stub portions 1114 serving as guides.

Secured to the inner face of the reciprocable plate 96, at either end thereof, are two plates 1118 and 1111 (FIG. 3) which support a main drive shaft 112 for the printing apparatus proper. The shaft 112 is connected through gears 114 and 116 to printer drive motor 113, the arrangement being such that the drive motor 118 may be actuated to rotate the main drive shaft 112. At the opposite ends of the drive shaft 112 are pinion gears 120, each of which meshes with a larger gear 122 carried on an associated one of the plates 1% or 110. Each gear 122', in turn, has a circular cam 124 bolted to its outer surface; and this cam is adapted to engage the upper surface of a bracket 126 bolted to an associated one of the plates 88 or 90. As is best shown in FIG. 5, the path of rotation of cams 124 on gears 122 is such that they will engage the upper surfaces of the brackets 126 for each revolution of the gears 122'. Since the brackets 126 on the plates 88 and 91 are carried on the carriage 78, and since the gears 122 and cams 124 are carried on the reciprocable plate 96, the engagement of the cams 124 with the top surfaces of the brackets 126 will cause the plate 96 and all of the components carried thereby to move upwardly on the stub portions 104 of bolts 102 and then downwardly into their original starting positions. It will be noted that the printer drive motor 118 is carried on the plate 96 so that it also moves upwardly with the shaft 112 when the cams 124 engage the brackets 126.

Above the shaft 12 is a printing wheel assembly (FIG. 3), generally indicated at 128. Since the embodiment of the invention shown herein is used for printing the ball results and score in a bowling game, there are six printing wheels numbered 130, 132, 134, 136, 138 and 144. As will hereinafter be seen, each of the printing wheels 130-14tl has a plurality of printing or type characters circumferentially spaced around its circumference. The first three printing wheels 1311, 132 and 134 are employed to print the score in the frame boxes shown on the score sheet of FIG. 2. In this respect, wheel 134 is employed to print units, wheel 132 prints tens, and wheel 1% prints hundreds. The printing wheels 136, 138 and 140, on the other hand, are employed to print the ball results in the ball results boxes 45 on the score sheet. In this respect, the wheel 156 is employed to print the first ball results; the wheel 138 is employed to print the second ball results; and the wheel 14% is used only in the tenth frame where there are three ball results boxes 48. That is, the wheel 1411 is used only when a bonus ball is rolled in the tenth frame, this wheel serving to print the ball results of the bonus ball.

With reference to the printing wheel 134, it is connected through a central shaft 142 to a gear 144 which is keyed or otherwise securely fastened to the shaft 142 so as to rotate therewith. The printing wheel 132, on the other hand, is connected through a first tubular shaft 146 to a gear 143, this gear being keyed to the shaft 146. Finally, in a similar manner, the printing wheel is connected through a third outer tubular shaft 150 to a third gear 152. As will be understood, by virtue of the coaxial relationship of the shafts 142, 146 and 150, each of the printing wheels 1311, 132 and 134 may rotate independently of the others. The shafts 142, 146 and 1511 are all supported on plastic bearing supports 154 extending outwardly from the vertically reciprocable plate 96 such that the gears 144, 148, 152 and their associated printing wheels 1311-134 will move upwardly with the plate 96 when cams 124 engage the brackets 126.

As shown in FIG. 3, the gears 144, 148 and 152 engage gears 156, 153 and 1613, respectively, each of the latter gears being slideably received on the main drive shaft 112. Cu one side of each gear 156, 158 and 166) is a bushing 162 secured to the shaft 112; while the other side of each gear is a second bushing 164 also secured to the shaft 112. Between the bushing 162 and each of the gears 156, 15% and 161i is a leaf spring 166, the arrangement being such that the spring 166 will urge its associated gear 156, 153 or 161 into engagement with the bushing 162 whereby the frictional engagement between the bushing 162 and its gear 156, 158 or 1611 will cause the gear to rotate when shaft 112 is rotated, thereby rotating its gear 144, 148 or 152 and its associated printing wheel. When, however, one of the gears 144, 148 or 152 is braked or positively stopped, the respective gear 156, 158 or 161) will also stop and slide on the shaft 112. That is, the frictional engagement between each gear 156, 158 or and its associated bushing 164 is such that it will rotate one of the gears 144, 148 and 152 and its associated printing wheel only in the absence of any braking applied to the latter gears. In this respect, the assemblies of gears 156, 158 and 161 comprise slip clutch arrangements.

Referring now to the ball results printing wheels 1136, 138 and 14%, each of these is connected to an associated gear 168, 170 and 172, respectively. These printing wheels are connected to the gears 168, 170, 172 through shafts similar to shafts 142, 146 and 151 and are supported on plastic bearing blocks 17 4 extending outwardly from the reciprocable plate 96. Each gear 163, 170 and 172 meshes with an associated gear 176, 178 or 151 connected in a slip clutch arrangement similar to the gears 156, 158 and 1 60 already described.

Referring now to FIGS. 4- and 7, it will be noted that the gear 168 is provided with a plurality of drill holes 152 circumferentially spaced around its one face, although these may be replaced with projecting lugs if desired. In addition, the gear 163 is provided with a projection 184 extending outwardly from its one face. Each of the gears 144, 148, 151i, 172, 170 and 168 is identical in construction, and in this respect it will be appreciated that each gear operates in the same manner. With reference to FIG. 4, it will be seen that each gear is provided with two control solenoids, the solenoids for gear 168 being identified by the numerals 186 and 188, respectively. Solenoid 138 is provided with an arm 19%) having an end projec tion which lies in the path of travel of the projection 134 on gear 168. Solenoid 186, on the other hand, is provided with an arm 192 having a detent 194 on its forward end adapted to fit into any one of the drill holes 132. As will hereinafter be seen, the cycle of operation of the printing apparatus is initiated by energizing the motor 118 to rotate each of the gears 144, 148, 15t 172, 176 and 168. When the motor 118 is energized, the gears all tend to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7 for gear 168. It will be seen, however, that the projection 184 on each gear which engages arm 19% will prevent rotation. Accordingly, when the motor 113 is energized, the solenoids 186 are also energized to simultaneously pull all of the arms 1% out of the path of travel of their associated projections 134 to permit the gears to rotate. With reference to gear 163 in FIG. 7, its associated solenoid 186 may be energized at any time during rotation of the gear 168 to pull the detent 194 into an associated one of the drill holes 1.82, thereby stopping the gear 168 and its clutch gear 176 on the main drive shaft 112. In this manner, a selected one of the printing characters or type on any one of the printing wheels may be stopped at the top of the wheel adjacent the score sheet 50 by energizing appropriate ones of the solenoids 186 in timed relationship with respect to the initial energization of solenoids 138.

The solenoid 186 for each printing wheel is energized by means of an arrangement shown in FIG. 6. Thus, there is associated with each printing wheel an insulating board 1% carried adjacent an associated one of the gears 144, 148, 15! 1'72, 170 and 163. Only that insulating board 1% associated with gear 168 is shown in MG. 6. It will be noted that the insulating board carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced electrical contact points 15 8, each of said contacts being connected through an associated lead to a control circuit, schematically illustrated at Ztltl. Carried on the backside of gear 168 is a circular member 282 having a radially-extending spring finger 264 adapted to engage each of the contact points 193 in succession as the gear 16% rotates. The member 202, in turn, is connected through a wiper brush, not shown, and lead 2% to the control circuit 2%. Since the gear 168 is connected to the bonus ball results printing wheel 140, it has thirteen contact points connected through associated leads to the control circuit 2%. Nine of the contact points represent the numerals 1-9; one contact represents a blow one a strike (X); one a spare and the last one a foul (F). The control circuit 200 is hereinafter fully shown and described in FIGS. lSA-lSF. At this ponit, however, it will be sufiicient to state that when a bonus ball is rolled in the tenth frame of a game, the number of pins knocked down by that ball will cause an associated one of the contact points 198 to be energized through the control circuit 200. If, for example, six pins were knocked down by the last or bonus ball, the number six contact 198 will be energized Thereafter, when the motor 118 is energized as well as the solenoids 188, the member 2%2 will rot-ate until the radially-extending spring finger 294 engages contact number six. At this point, a circuit will be completed through lead 266 and the control circuit 290 to energize the solenoid 186 for gear 163, thereby pulling the arm 192 (FIG. 4) inwardly toward the outer face of the gear to force the detent 194 into the number six drill hole shown in FIG. 7. At this point, the gears 168 and 176 stop while the drive shaft 112 continues to rotate. In this manner, the numeral six will be stopped at the top of printing wheel 14%; and when the vertical plate 96 is elevated upwardly by the cams 124, this numeral six will be pressed against the score sheet 5t).

In the practice of the invention, the motor 118 is initially energized, and thereafter the solenoids 188 will be momentarily energized to pull the arms 19%) out of the paths of detents or projections 184, thereby permitting the printing wheel gears to rotate. Each wheel will thereafter he stopped at a predetermined angular position determined by which one of its contacts 198 is energized. If, however, none of the contacts is energized, the printing wheel will rotate through a complete revolution until the projection 184 again engages the arm to stop the wheel, at which point there are no characters or type at the top of the printing wheel. The gear ratios of the various gears in the printing apparatus are such that each printing wheel may be rotated through a complete revolution before the gears 122 complete one cycle or revolution to engage the cams 124- with the brackets 126. Thus, assuming that intelligence is fed into the control circuit 2% for each of the printing wheels, each printing wheel will be positioned at a particular point and ready to print on the score sheet 5%) before the cams 124 engage brackets 126 to elevate the printing wheels into engagement with the score sheet.

With reference now to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 8, it will be noted that a plate 2% is carried on the upper flange 98 of the vertical plate 96. This plate, of course, will move parallel to the player lines shown in FIG. 2 with movement of carriage 64, and will also move perpendicular thereto along the frames with carriage 78. Cut into the plate 253 is an opening or aperture 210 through which the tops of the printing wheels project. The plate 208 is opaque and light-colored to provide a light background for the printed material produced on the underside of the translucent score sheet Stt such that this printed material may be viewed from the top of the translucent sheet through the transparent plate 44. In order to provide an uninterrupted light background for the complete score sheet, the plate must have larger transverse dimensions than the score sheet itself as shown in FIG. 2. That is, when the aperture 210 and the printing wheels underneath are at the lowermost player line H as shown in PEG. 2, the plate 2% must extend upwardly as viewed in FiG. 2, for a sutlicient distance to still cover the entire score sheet. Similarly, when the aperture 210 is at the top of the score sheet, the plate 2% must extend downwardly for a sufficient distance so that it still covers the entire score sheet. Furthermore, the length of the plate 208 from left to right as viewed in FIG. 2 must be sufficient to cover the entire score sheet regardless of whether the aperture 210 and the printing wheels beneath are at the extreme left or right end of the score sheet. Stenciled or otherwise provided on the plate 208 is a large arrow 212 comprising a solid pointer 214 having a pair of lines 216 and 21? extending to the right as viewed in FIG. 2, with the space between the lines 216 and 218 being light-colored as the remainder of the plate 208. As will hereinafter be seen, a bowler will push the button A-H adjacent his name before he bowls, and means are provided for moving the carriage '78 upwardly or downwardly until the aperture 219 is under the player line corresponding to the pushbutton that was depressed. In addition, the carriage 64 will be moved to position the aperture 21d over the proper frame to be played. Let us assume, for example, that the player corresponding to the pushbutton G depressed his appropriate button. At this point the carriage 73 will be moved to the player line G, and the carriage 62 will be moved to the proper frame for that player. The arrow 212 serves the important function of giving a positive indication of which player is bowling at any one time. That is, if a player G should mistakenly push button F, then the arrow 212 will, of course, point to player line F rather than the proper player line G, thereby alerting all bowlers to the fact that the player has pushed the wrong button. This condition may be corrected by merely depressing pushbutton G rather than F, whereupon the aperture 210 and the arrow 212. will move to the proper player line. It will be noted that the lines 216 and 218 extend downwardly from the aperture 210 to the extreme right edge of the plate 288. Thus, the arrow will appear regardless of which frame is being played, and by virtue of the fact that the space between the lines 216 and 218 is lightcolored, any scores which appear between these lines may be viewed through the transparent plate 44. Thus, when a score is to be entered in previous frame boxes after the execution of a bowling game mar suchas a strike or spare, the plate 288 and aperture 210 will move to the :left as viewed in FIG. 2. However, by virtue of the separation of lines 2116 and 218, the ball rwul-ts in the succeeding will not be obscured.

Referring now to FIGS. and 8, it will be seen that the aperture 210 in plate 288 is covered with a shutter 220 which comprises a flexible strip 221 of metal carried within appropriate guides, not shown, so as to curve upwardly over the tops of the printing wheels. The lower end of the flexible metal strip is connected to a shutter actuating mechanism, generally indicated at 222. The shutter actuating mechanism is possibly best shown in FIG. 9 and comprises an L-shaped bracket 224 which is secured to the right plate 88. Pivotally carried on one arm of the bracket 224 is a shutter actuating arm 226 having a pin 228 at its forward end which projects through a slot 230' in the reciprocable plate 96 and engages the lower end of the flexible steel strip 221. When the cams 124 do not engage brackets 126 in the plate 96 and the printing apparatus is not elevated, the shutter operating arm 226 will be in the position shown by the full lines in FIG. 9 whereby the upper end of the steel strip 221 will pass over and cover the aperture 210 in plate 208. When, however, the plate 96 and its associated printing apparatus are moved upwardly by the cams 124, the pin 228 will anchor the lower end of the flexible steel strip 221 whereby its upper end will move out of the aperture 210, thereby exposing the printing wheels to the score sheet 50. Thereafter, when the plate 96 and its associated printing apparatus move downwardly, the shutter actuating arm 226 will force the steel strip 221 upwardly whereby it will again cover the aperture 210. The shutter 220 is light-colored like the plate 208 and provides a means whereby a continuous light background is provided for the printed material on the score sheet. The shutter 226, however, provides a means whereby the aperture 210 is uncovered when a printing operation is to be performed.

With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 8, carried on the reciprocable plate 96, at right angles thereto, is a plate 232 which carries the carbon roll assembly for the printing wheels. As best shown in FIG. 8, four shafts extend outwardly from the plate 232, these shafts being indicated by the numerals 234, 236, 238 and 240. Carried on the end of shaft 240 is a gear 242 which meshes with a pinion gear 244 on the main drive shaft 112. the arrangement being such that the shaft 240 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 8 each time the main drive shaft 112 is rotated. Carried on the shaft 234 is a roll of carbon paper 246. From roll 246 the ribbon 248 of carbon paper passes over roll 236 and thence between curved plates 250 and 252 carried between the opposite end plates 254 and 256 (FIG. 3) of a cage assembly which surrounds the printing wheels. From the plates 250 and 252, the carbon ribbon 258 passes over the tops of the printing wheels and thence through a second pair of curved plates 258 and 261 also carried by the aforesaid cage assembly. Finally, the carbon ribbon 248 passes over a drum 260 on shaft 238 and thence to a reel on shaft 240. Beneath the drum 260 is a roller 262 on a solenoid 264, the arrangement being such that when the solenoid is deenergized the roll 262 will not be in contact with the drum 260, but when it is energized it will be in contact with drum 260. The shaft 238 and drum 260 are driven through gear 266 which, in turn, is connected to the pinion gear 244. The reel on shaft 240 will slip and remain stationary whenever tension is on the carbon ribbon 248. When, however, the solenoid 264 is energized to move roller 262 into contact with drum 260, the carbon ribbon 248 will be unwound from reel 246 and the slack between drum 10 260 and shaft 240 will be taken up. Means, not shown, are provided to energize the solenoid 264 and advance the carbon ribbon each time a first ball cycle is started for each player, thereby presenting a new carbon surface for the next printing operation.

As will be understood, the upper side only of the carbon ribbon is provided with the usual ink-like material whereas the underside is not. Thus, when any one of the printing characters 268 is at the top of the printing wheel 140, for example, and the plate 96 is forced upwardly by cams 124, a printing character will press the carbon paper against the score sheet 50 to produce a printed character thereon. This printed character may be viewed through the transparent plate 44 while the opaque plate 208 provides a light-colored background for the printed material on the score sheet.

In the particular embodiment of the invention shown herein, the printing characters 268 are formed on a rubber or the like strip 269 which is wound about the printing wheel 148 and secured thereto. In order to effectively print on the underside of the score sheet, either the printing characters themselves must have a certain degree of resiliency or the plate 44 must have this resiliency in order to produce a seating effect of the characters against the score sheet in somewhat the same manner as a conventional rubber stamp. Another analogy is a conventional typewriter wherein the platen is semi-resilient to receive the metal type bars. Thus, if the type is resilient or semi-resilient, the transparent plate 44 may be rigid. If, however, the printing characters or type are rigid and rigidly mounted on the printing wheel, then the transparent plate 44 must have a semi-resilient character. An example of a semi-resilient material which is also transparent and suitable for this purpose is vinyl. Still another possibility is to have rigid type resiliently mounted on the printing wheel (i.e., metal type mounted on rubber) in which case the transparent plate 44 may also be rigid.

It will be apparent that the ball results printing wheels 136, 138 and 148 should print in the upper right-hand corner of each frame box on the score sheet; Whereas the score results wheels 130, 132 and 134 should print directly in the center and below the ball results boxes of each frame box. This, of course, may be accomplished by offsetting the axes of one set of wheels with respect to those of the other set. In the embodiment of the invention shown, however, the axes of all printing wheels are coincident and the printing characters on wheels 136, 138 and 140 are offset to the right as viewed in FIG. 8 with respect to those on wheels 130, 132 and 134 to achieve the desired result.

Referring again to FIG. 3, it will be noted that the carriage 64 is connected to a worm gear 270, this worm gear being connected through control cams 272 to a frame travel motor 274. In a somewhat similar manner, the carriage 78 is connected to a worm drive 278 (FIG. 5) carried on the carriage 64. The worm drive 278 is connected through control cams 280 to a player travel motor 282. Finally, the printer drive motor 118 is controlled through a motor control circuit 286 which, in turn, receives control signals from control cams 288 connected to the shaft of the motor 118.

General Overall Description of Scoring, T otalizing and Printing Circuitry Referring to FIG. 10, bowling pins, not shown, on the pin spots 20 of Alley 1 and Alley 2 are each provided, for example, with permanent magnets in their bottoms. Movable across the bottoms of the pins on spots 20 are coil assemblies 290 and 292. In an actual installation, the coil assemblies 290 and 292 each comprise a plurality of aligned coils which are arranged such that as the coils sweep across the bottoms of the pins, one electrical pulse will be induced for each standing pin. The electrical pulses from the coil assemblies 290 and 292 are fed to 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERING AND TOTALIZING THE SCORE FOR A BOWLING GAME, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT AND TRANSPARENT PLATE MEANS, A SCORE SHEET DIVIDED INTO FRAME SCORE SPACES, SAID SCORE SHEET BEING FORMED OF MATERIAL WHICH WILL PERMIT LIGHT TO PASS THERETHROUGH AND SUPPORTED IN CLOSE ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID TRANSPARENT PLATE MEANS SUCH THAT SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE SHEET IS VISIBLE DURING THE PROGRESS OF A BOWLING GAME AND THE SCORE SHEET CAN BE ILLUMINATED BY LIGHT PASSING THROUGH THE TRANSPARENT PLATE MEANS, MEANS FOR REGISTERING THE NUMBER OF PINS KNOCKED DOWN AFTER EACH BALL IS ROLLED IN A GAME, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID REGISTERING MEANS FOR TABULING THE ACCUMULATED SCORE FOR EACH FRAME IN A NORMAL TEN FRAME GAME, AND MEANS LOCATED ADJACENT SAID SCORE SHEET ON THE SIDE THEREOF OPPOSITE THE TRANSPARENT PLATE AND RESPONSIVE TO SAID TABULATING MEANS FOR PRINTING THE ACCUMULATED SCORE IN SUCCESSIVE SCORE SPACES ON THE SCORE SHEET. 